Today’s Top Crypto News
Welcome to 2020! It’s not hindsight, but it’s the best we got. From bitcoin to shitcoin, I’ve got the scoop—even if I have to through China.
Bitcoin Hash Rate 7x Its 2017 Hash Rate
As we enter the new year, ZenGo CEO Ouriel Ohayon jokes about Bitcoin sliding to $1,000 in 2020. Meanwhile, 30 people in Butte, Montana have been laid off from the Butte Bitcoin Mining Operation and are now suing one of the company’s investors. The turn of the year also has some people asking if a BTC pump and dump is planned for the first week of the year for the fourth year in a row. Even if it happens, it won’t negate the bright side: Bitcoin’s hash rate is high and mighty. — BITCOINIST
Image from @SalsaTekila on Twitter.
Ripple Drops 1.2 Million XRP into Chris Larsen Wallet
As Ripple’s valuation hits $10 billion, the cryptocurrency ranked third by marketcap unleashes 1,256,000,000 XRP worth almost $240,869,752. The receiving wallet is a wallet set up by Ripple co-founder and E-loan founder Chris Larsen. More than one analyst is pulling for XRP to go above the 0.2000 valuation. Meanwhile, the coin’s liquidity has hit an all-time high against the Mexican peso. — U.TODAY
Image from bithomp.com.
China’s New Crypto Law Went Into Effect Yesterday
China passed a new crypto law in October that sets rules for cryptographic passwords. The law comes at a time when the whole world is anticipating China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). The International Monetary Fund researched the various stakeholders who could benefit from CBDC’s and found banks to be among them. The head of China’s central bank, Mu Changchun, says the digital yuan will not be used for speculation. — CD FORECASTS
Image from Coin Telegraph.
Poloniex Emails May Have Been Exposed on Twitter
Cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex has asked some customers to change their email passwords because some of them were allegedly leaked on Twitter. One individual called it a scam. Circle bought Poloniex in February 2018 then spun it out into its own standalone entity one year later. It is closed to U.S. traders. — CROWDFUND INSIDER
Image from Crowdfund Insider.
Beware of Shitcoin Wallet
As if the name itself wouldn’t be enough to scare you away, ZDNET is warning its readers not to download a Chrome extension called Shitcoin Wallet because it’s allegedly stealing passwords and private keys. — ZDNET
Image from ZDNET.
Top Crypto Reads and Deeds
Here’s a sobering look back to last year and forward to the next year. Plus, some sugarcoating. Courtesy Twitter.
A Look at the Future—And the Past—Of Crypto
This is the time of the year when everyone looks back at the last annual calendar and reflects on achievements, disappointments, and other happenings while sharing their expectations for the coming period. CoinCodex looks at events that shaped the crypto market in 2019. CoinGape looks back at the biggest crypto exchange hacks. On the future front, Law360 is anticipating some fintech litigation, and Calvin Ayre predicts a year of enterprise adoption and “kick ass” utility for bitcoin while Coin Telegraph has compiled a list of prognostications for 2020 from some of the industry’s biggest names. — COIN TELEGRAPH
Image from CoinCodex.
Where To Spend Your Bitcoin
There’s no shortage of enthusiasts willing to sing the praises of Bitcoin over altcoins. And most of us are aware of at least one place to spend your Bitcoin. Some of us are aware of a few. Eileen Brown has compiled a large list of places online and in the physical world around the globe where crypto users can spend their hard-mined or -earned crypto. — ZDNET
Image from ZDNET.
Crypto You Can Mine From a Home Computer
I think we all know about Electroneum by now. While ETN was designed to be mined on a mobile phone, other coins are designed to be mined from a computer. This is not an exhaustive list, but if you’re looking for a cryptocurrency you mine at home from your everyday computer, here are five you might consider. And, no, none of them are bitcoin. — BRAVE NEW COIN
Former Coinbase Executive Says Bitcoin, Ethereum Can’t Die
It’s become so common for some naysayers to take a jab at crypto and predict its ultimate demise that it’s not even newsworthy any more. In fact, most times it’s a bad joke. That may be why Balaji Srinivasan, Coinbase’s former CTO, says the two leading cryptocurrencies are too big to die. On the other hand, there could be other reasons too. — AMBCRYPTO
Image from AMBCrypto.
Overheard On Twitter While You Were Partying Hard
On New Year’s Eve, @APompliano shared how to make 2020 a great year. I’m pretty sure @ltc_angel was sipping the midnight egg nog as the ball dropped when she asked her followers if they’d date someone with no interest in crypto. Whether you would or wouldn’t, once you sober up, you can be involved in a crypto documentary (but you have to be transparent). And @naomibrockwell is questioning her New Year’s Eve state of mind after being accused of filing a DMCA violation claim.
Image from @naomibrockwell on Twitter.
Allen Taylor is a veteran award-winning journalist and former newspaper editor. He is a freelance writer focused on fintech, including blockchain and crypto projects, and manages crypto blogs through CryptoBloggers. Follow me on Twitter and Steemit.